Fashion’s Night Out Indy 2012: The lowdown!

I’m so thrilled that this year’s Fashion’s Night Out is shaping up to be one with such a great involvement from local retailers, designers and boutiques. Last year, our goal at Pattern was to get the City of Indianapolis to officially endorse the event for the city because we knew that this would galvanize the local community to get more involved! It’s gratifying to see that our efforts have paid off! A huge thank you to former Deputy Mayor, Michael Huber who believed in our vision enough to bring our “demands” to Mayor Ballard and also to the dedicated volunteers, especially Petra Slinkard, Jeremiah Williams, Julia Rutland, Truen Jaimes and Danielle Smith, who have been laboring for weeks to market and promote the event to the rest of the fashion community and the city. And also to Jennifer Jones at Circle Centre Mall!

If you’re just tuning in, love fashion but have never heard of Fashion’s Night Out, you’re in for a treat! FNO was created in 2009 by American Vogue, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, NYC & Company, and the City of New York, to celebrate fashion, restore consumer confidence, and boost the industry’s economy during the recession. In other words, FNO happens to be the biggest retail fashion party of the year!

There are several major hotspots around the city where lovers of fashion can go to experience designer showcases, fashion shows, styling advice, food samples, goodie bags, makeovers, and of course, shopping. All events take place on September 6, 6-10p.

Circle Centre Mall will have food and beverage sampling stations and a Hair Style Stop sponsored by Trade Secret will offer shoppers advice on the latest hair trends. Participating retailers include Banana Republic, Express, and The Gap. Swag bags filled with goodies will be given to the first 200 people who walk into the mall the evening of September 6!

The Fashion Mall has a number of showcases lined up starting with a fashion show of Fall Trends from Nordstrom at 6:30p and as well as other interactive presentations including Shop the Fashion Mall Closet Challenge and Street Style Chic: Fabulous or Faux Pas? Participating FNO mall retailers include Nordstrom, Tiffany & Co, Anne Taylor, BCBG, Bebe, Cache, Lucky Brand, Madewell and others. Expect to see one-night only discounts, giveways, makeovers and contests.

Saks 5th Ave will have DJ Slater Hogan spinning tunes, complimentary cocktails by St. Germain. There will also be a fashion presentation at 7pm on the second floor.

[box color=”orange” icon=”flag”]If you can’t make it out for the night, have no fear, tune in to twitter using #fnoindy and NightlightsTV as our blogger laden limo (sponsored by A Class Act Limo) visits some of the city’s FNO hotspots and reports live from where all the action is taking place. Join Peter and Alex from RAANNT, Jennie Edwards from IndySpectator, Dedee from Forefront Indy, Derrick Braziel from Dreamopolis and Maria from Pattern, as they eat, drink, schmooze and give you their very unique takes on what happens when we try to engage Indianapolis in fashion-related activities en masse. Photographer Esther Boston will be on hand to capture all the hijinks for posterity! We’re asking our limo bloggers to give us an honest run down of the evening’s events – the good, the bad and the ugly. We want this event to get bigger and better with each year so some constructive criticism is very welcome![/box]

Also noteworthy:

In cooperation with Circle Centre Mall, we invited seven local stylists (Latham Hawkins, Zoe Renee, Dlang, Kelly Kruthaupt, Madison Hanulak, Annie Stultz and Savannah Norris) to take over the old Nordstrom windows and create unique displays using both the mall retailers and independent designers. Windows will be revealed on September 6th and be up for the rest of September. Be sure to stop by an check those out and let us know what you think!

Local men’s style blog, Social Club 19 is hosting a social media lounge at the Artsgarden. Lounge host, Jeremiah Williams and his crew of bloggers, will welcome indie designers and web-based retailers like BlumLux, No Bad Ideas and Sugar & Bruno, as well as report on happenings in the Artsgarden and the mall.

After you’re done sampling, schmoozing and shopping, and if you still have energy, join the local fashion movers and shakers at the afterparty which will be rocking Hyde at BLU downtown starting at 10pm.

All events are completely free, but every retailer and designer is hopeful that you will generously treat yourself to a whole new fall wardrobe!

For more information about Fashion’s Night Out as a whole, visit www.fashionsnightout.com. For local happenings follow @fnoindy. Use #fnoindy hashtag to ask any questions about FNO events or to share your experiences the day of the event.

[box color=”green”]I really do hope that you join us in celebrating fashion at one of the above locations. Your participation will not only help support local retailers, and designers, but will also send a clear message to the City, that Indianapolis just might be ready for its textile and fashion industry to go to the next level. :-)[/box]